WHERE IS COREY COTT’S TONY AWARD, YOU COWARDS?
I haven’t posted on Tumblr in almost four years. That is how I feel about what I just saw tonight when I went to see Bandstand in theatres. Fathom Events will run it in AMC theatres at 7:00 PM on Thursday, the 29th, and I sincerely beg everyone to go see this. Hopefully, it will land on Netflix so more people get to see this show that closed way too early. But since you can’t see it in person, you should really see it on the big screen. The production is stunning. The music is divine. The choreography is a dream. The look from costumes to sets to lighting is magnificent. And the story is incredibly moving, entertaining, inspiring, and devastating. It tackles PTSD, survivor’s guilt, the healing power of music, love, pain, mental health, and heroism. The cast is “criminally talented,” and Laura Osnes is sensational. Everything about this production deserved recognition, deserved better, and everything about it makes it unique and special.
But Corey MF Cott was robbed. He ruined me. There was not a single moment he wasn’t Donny, his character. The joy, the pain, the torment, the focus, the drive, the fanaticism... I’ve never seen anything like that performance. I don’t think I can put into words how he affected me specifically during “Right This Way,” and then again in “This Is Life.” He moved me so thoroughly, I can’t stop thinking about his performance. He was raw and real, and he didn’t hold back. There was spit, snot, tears; he wasn’t afraid to look into someone’s eyes, get right into their personal space. He must know that he did some veterans justice by what he’s done in this piece. He ruined me. And it’s literal insanity to think he didn’t even get a recognized with a Tony nomination. This show deserved better. Cory deserved better. But hopefully, this release will allow people all over the country and the world to see what an incredible force he is. And hopefully, it will continue to grow awareness for our veterans, many of whom come home to fight a whole other war.
It might be another four years before I write something on Tumblr. But I had to word vomit. Go see Banstand while you can. You shouldn’t miss it.
